The Northwest Gun

King Charles II of England granted a charter in May of 1670 for the Company of Adventures trading into Hudson's Bay, and a true legend was born. Guns are mentioned in the minutes of the Hudson's Bay Company as early as 1671. Various types were traded regularly, but not until 1761 was there a mention of a specific gun called a Northwest Gun: a request by a gun smith to the company for parts, "Same as for the Northwest Gun."The other major trader in Northwest Guns was the Northwest Company, founded in Montreal in 1779 by a group of merchants. After three decades of fierce competition in 1821 the Northwest Company was swallowed up by the Hudson's Bay Company. ​

The Dragon or Serpent Side Plate

The dragon side plate became the identifying symbol of the Northwest Gun. There were many variations on this theme. It depended on where the gun was made, the date the gun was manufactured and who the gunsmith was. The two lock bolts are iron and the rear fastener is a wood screw.

At first glance all of these side plates may look the same, but look again. The top and bottom guns are percussion locks and the middle is a flintlock. That also makes a difference in the shape of the side plate along with many other factors. Look at the overall length of the side plate, the shape of the dragon's head, the placement of the dragon's plumes, the positioning of the lock bolts and screw and the size and shape of the complete circle that the dragon's body makes. Also look at the comb, the place where the butt stock merges with the wrist, as well as the finials at the termination of the the flat area where the side plate is mounted. All of these things are clues to the time period and the maker of the gun.

Another example of a different side plate that at first glance might look the same. The small pin you can see below the center lock bolt and right where the dragons body completes the circle is the pin that holds the trigger in place.

Reproduction Side Plates Available Today

The top three are quite heavy castings and the detail is poor. The third is similar to the side plates of guns made in Belgium during the fur trade, but the Belgian guns were considered inferior at the time. The next three are all good depending on what you want: flintlock, percussion, etc. etc. The last one is from a pistol and said to possibly be the inspiration for the final form of the trade gun dragon side plate. The early English side plates were made from sheet brass with an engraved dragon-like design. All the old Northwest Guns had the side plates inlaid into the stock. They did not sit on the surface of the wood.

This is a reproduction of a early sheet brass side plate with engraved design. You can see the beginnings of the classic serpent side plate in this example.

This side plate, found at Fort Vancouver, WA, is very close to the example fourth from the top in the photograph above.​

Another unique feature of the Northwest Gun was the trigger guard. No other gun before or since has such a large trigger guard. The most common explanation is that it was made oversized to accommodate a gloved or mittened hand. However, documentation points to a different cause; in 1740 Joseph Isbister at Fort Albany, a Hudson's Bay outpost on what now is James Bay, Ontario, noted that, "The Indians would like to have the guard larger, it is usual to draw the trigger with two fingers which our guns will not admit of."The other notable feature is the tang bolt. It goes through the trigger guard at an angle and catches the tang that holds the back of the barrel to the stock.In this photo you can clearly see the head of the bolt entering the trigger guard at an angle. In the photo below you can see the end of the bolt where it comes through the tang and is filed down flush.

Maker's Marks And Proof Marks

If you're thinking of buying a Northwest Gun finished or building a kit, some research goes a long way. When looking at each individual gun you will notice a number of stamped words, letters and symbols. These are maker's marks, company marks and proof marks. You will find them on the barrel, the lock and the wooden stock. ​

The photo above shows four different marks stamped into the flats of the barrel. On the lock in this photo you can see the makers name,Whately. There is also a fox in a circle and a small crown.To find out more about the markings on old trade guns and much much more about them. I recommend three books:

I've had the chance to look over and study a friend's Northwest Gun collection. It's invaluable to have had the opportunity to look closely at these guns and have them in my hands. It told me things I couldn't know any other way. One of the most interesting things you'll see when comparing a larger group of Northwest Guns is all the subtle differences between each different gun and their parts. Thanks to my friend.

Northwest Guns From the Northwest Coast

An old Northwest Gun, heavily decorated and cut off for use at close quarters. Probably Haida or Tlingit.​

English Military Blunderbuss from Alaska, also heavily ornamented. ​

Two Northwest Guns in the Museum in Wrangell, Alaska.

Two Tlingit men dressed in regalia, the man on the right is holding a Northwest Gun. ​

In this old photograph of three Tlingit men you can see another Northwest Gun prominently displayed.

Two men in the front row of this group of Tlingit people are holding Northwest Guns.

The introduction of firearms on the Northwest Coast soon rendered the traditional wood and heavy animal hide armor obsolete, although Russian accounts from the Battle of Sitka state that the Tlingit's armor did deflect musket fire and was hard to pierce with shot or ball. ​

When the Gun Was no Longer Serviceable

When the gun had worn out or was broken beyond repair, the parts were used in many other ways. The first three images are carvings on knife handles made from pieces of Walnut from gunstocks. The next five images are smoking pipes made from gunstocks--some with the butt plate still attached and a piece of the barrel used as the pipe bowl. The next two images are a hair ornament made from a gun barrel and the last image is a little pipe in the shape of a cannon from Yakutat Bay Alaska.

Accoutrements

Tlingit powder horn in the Fenimore Art Museum collection. The horn is 11 1/2" long and 3 3/4" diameter at the large end. It dates from 1780 to 1800.

My Northwest Guns Projects

This is the most recent Northwest Gun I've completed, it is a North Star West Northwest Gun kit. I think North Star West is one of the best options for kits and finished guns; they have many options so you can customize your gun. You can choose how to finish the metal parts and get the stock unfinished so you can do the final shaping in preparation for the surface carving. Before I built the first Northwest Gun kit I had no experience making guns. It is a very doable challenge and a lot of fun. It takes a simple tool kit and if you get stuck on something, it's not hard to find someone willing to help. The design on this gun represents a Mountain, Dragonfly, Mountain Goat and Raven.

Detail shots of the above Northwest Gun

A North Star West Northwest Gun I bought completed but "in the white," meaning the gun was completed but the wood and metal had no finish on them and the side plate was not inlaid. This is a good solution for those who want to carve and finish a Northwest Gun but don't want to build one. ​

Another North Star West Northwest Gun a friend bought completed and "in the white." I finished the metal for him, inlaid the side plate and carved the stock. He then took it and put the finish he wanted on the wood, and I got a beautiful engraved Eagle Bracelet in trade. We're both happy.

My next gun project will be a Blunderbuss similar to the old one pictured in the information above. Stay tuned.

Reproduction ​English Military Brass Barrel Blunderbuss

Personalizing Your Firearms

Here are my two most recent guns, along with the first gun I ever carved. I included this group of guns to make the point that decorating a replica of an old style gun is a lot of fun. The old decorated guns we see today were created when they were new, or at least new to to the one who decorated them. In the middle of this photograph is my 30-30 caliber Marlin; a gun I have been hunting with since the mid 1970s. In keeping with tradition, as soon as I got it I started to decorate it to make it unique to me. It evolved over time to what you see now. The first thing I added to the original gun was the tack design. In fact, these are not the original tacks. The first ones I used were cheap and the brass color wore off after a few years of use. I finally replaced the old ones with the ones you see here. They are smaller than the first ones and I think look better, anyway.Next, I decided to carve the stock in Northwest Coast formline. That was in the late 1970's. I wanted the design to be relevant to the use of the gun. I use it almost exclusively for deer hunting, so on the butt stock is a personified deer surrounded by the spirit of the deer. Then on the fore stock is a human face with forest spirits above it. The 3-9 x 40 scope was added in 2013. Because function is the most important thing next to the form. ​